Monday, September 28, 2009

Gentrification is a bad word in Seattle, the other Seattle, if only that were the problem here

I do not see McGinn peddling his electric-assist bike up North Aurora, or Joe Mallahan standing on the overpass at 125th Street pontificating. There is no neighborhood romance to leverage into votes here.

There are no art galleries serving white wine, and no battles over street cars.

North Aurora in Seattle looks much worse than South Aurora in Shoreline. Same road, two different cities.

There are no battles to bring light rail stations, monorails, or pramanades. No tourist gift shops hawk cheesy totem pole t-shirts to cruise ship passengers here.
But this is still Seattle, paying Seattle taxes, isn't it?

Gentrification is a bad word in Seattle, the other Seattle, if only that were the problem.
Read the latest rerun of this story at the Seattle Times right here.